Electric amusement game



March 31, 19 70 Filed Feb. 27, 1967 V. WOJ DAT ELECTRIC AMUSEMENT GAME 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG, 1

INVENTOR March31,1970 mo 3,503,609

FIG. 2

ELECTRIC AMUSEMENT GAME 7 Filed Feb. 27, 1967 4 Shets-Sheet z INVENTOR mm;- 21w v'.-wo,| M ELEQTRICVAMUSEMENT GAME Marh 31, 1970.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 27, 1967 FIG. 5

INVENTOR United States Patent 3,503,609 ELECTRIC AMUSEMENT GAME Vincent Wojdat, 18 Woodbury Road, Hauppauge, N.Y. 11787 Filed Feb. 27, 1967, Ser. No. 618,878 Int. Cl. A63b 67/00 U.S. Cl. 2731 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A plurality of switches are arranged on a playing board. Each of the switches is connected at one side to one side of a pattern sheet controlled selector switch, and at the other side through an energizer and an alarm to the other side of the pattern sheet controlled selector switch. When a given switch is manually closed, if the respective contacts of the selector switch are in communication through the pattern sheet, the alarm will sound.

The object of this invention is to provide entertainment and amusing diversion for persons of all ages.

The following is a brief description of the invention and its use:

The invention embodies a main frame containing a number of treadles, treadle switches, a selector switch, an alarming device and an energizer.

Dependent upon the materials and dimensions used in fabricating, the entire assembly is placed upon either a floor or table. Assuming, for the purpose of this description, the materials and dimensions allow, then the assembly will be placed upon a floor and the pressure upon the treadles that closes the treadle switches, will be provided by stepping upon the treadles.

Each treadle switch is connected to the selector switch, which is connected to the alarming device, and this in turn is connected to the energizer.

When a treadle is stepped upon, thereby closing its switch, the circuit is completed and a current will flow through the circuit, activating the alarming device. However, which contacts of the selector switch are in the closed position, will determine which treadle switch will cause the alarming device to be activated. Therefore it is possible to step upon a treadle, thereby closing its switch, without activating the alarming device.

Thence the idea behind this invention is: To have a number of treadles arranged in columns and rows, with one treadle positioned apart from the rest and this to be considered the starting point of the game. A participant in the game is required to begin by first stepping upon this exclusive treadle. Should the corresponding contact in the selector switch be in the open position, and stepping upon this treadle does not sound the alarm, then the player is permitted to proceed to the first row of treadles, stepping upon but one treadle of his choice in that row. If again, the treadle stepped upon does not sound the alarm, the player proceeds from row to row in the same manner attempting to complete the course without having caused the alarm to sound.

If construction of the assembly intends its use as a tabletop game, then finger or mechanical means may be employed to apply pressure to the treadles.

A more detailed description including drawings follows, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of the underside of a treadle, illustrating the treadle switch, and is typical of all treadles.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a treadle switch and is typical of all treadle switches.

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of the selector switch, shown with the cover plate fully opened.

FIG. 5 is :a cross sectional view of the selector switch, shown with the cover plate partially opened.

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of a selector card which is used in the selector switch.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit.

'FIG. 1 is an embodiment of this invention consisting of a main frame assembly 1, which may be constructed of but not limited to, a semi-rigid material such as paperboard of a suitable thickness.

The main frame assembly 1 consists of several, preferabl'y five, sections typical of section 1a. Each section 1a being joined to another by the use of a hinging device 3, which allows the entire main frame assembly 1 to be folded for ease of packing and/ or storing.

Each section 1a has in it several, preferably three, treadles 2 which are held in position by a hinging device 3, which allows vertical movement of the treadles 2.

An additional section 1b is joined to and made part of the main frame assembly 1 by the use of a hinging device 3. Contained in this section 1b is but one treadle 2, centrally positioned. Mounted upon this section 1b is an energizer and alarming device unit 4, and a selector switch 5.

FIG. 2 is a partial view of the underside of the main frame assembly 1 illustrating the underside of a treadle 2 and a treadle switch 6. This arrangement FIG. 2, is typical of all treadles 2.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the treadle switch 6 shown in FIG. '2. To the treadle 2 is secured a conductive plate 611 by means of :a hollow rivet 6d, which is also used as a means for attaching the electrical conductor 6g. To the conductive plate 6a is secured a pad 6b, of an elastic material, which is the spring device that retains the movable arm 6c-which is secured to the opposite side of the spring device 6b-in the normally-open position. The electrical conductor 6f is attached to the movable arm 6c by means of a rivet 6e.

FIG. 4 is a view of the selector switch 5 as shown mounted to section 1b in FIG. 1, illustrating the configuration of the 5 components as would be seen with the conductive cover plate 5a in the fully opened position.

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the selector switch 5 as shown in FIG. 4, except that the cover plate 5a is shown partially opened.

The spring contacts 5 are so positioned that each is equidistant to any adjacent to it. Each contact 5f is secured to the main frame assembly section 1b by means of a rivet 5g which is also used to attach the electrical conductor 5m. The stop rail 5d shown in FIG. 4, and the two guide rails 5e and 5n, are so positioned onto the main frame assembly section 1b as to accept the selector card 7 (FIG. 6) allowing no free movement of the selector card 7, when held in place by the cover plate 5a. The cover plate 5a is secured by means of a hinging device 50. The electrical conductor 5k is attached by means of a rivet 5b, to the cover plate 5a. The cover plate 5a is made of a conductive material and serves a dual purpose. The first of which is to act as the common contact of the switch 5 and the second being to retain the selector card 7 (FIG. 6) in position over the contacts 5 The cover plate 5a is retained in the closed position by the retaining clip 5 which is secured to the main frame assembly section 111 by a rivet 5h.

FIG. 6 shows the selector card 7 illustrating several apertures 8 which are strategically located and large enough in diameter to allow a contact 5 to pass through thereby making contact with the cover plate 5a. Several selector cards 7 of differing combinations of aperture 8 placement may be used. The selector card 7 may be made of any non-conductive material of suitable thickness. The

shape of the selector card 7 is an exact square. The dimensions being such that the selector card 7 will fit snugly between the two guide rails e and 5n of the selector switch 5. In that the spring contacts 5 of the selector switch 5 are equidistant to each adjacent spring contact 5 then it stands to reason that the selector card 7 may be placed into the selector switch 5 in any direction, thus providing four dilferent switching combinations from one selector card 7.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the electrical components of this invention and the manner in which they are electrically connected.

The energizer 4b and the alarming device 4a are contained as one unit 4. Tracing the circuit from the energizer 4b, we find that one side of the energizer 4b is common to the arm 6c of each treadle switch 6. The treadle switches 6 are designed as momentary on-otf switches and are normally-open. Therefore, unless pressure is applied to the treadle switches 6, there is no continuity beyond the arm 60 of the treadle switches 6. While pressure is applied to a treadle switch 6, we have continuityacross the contacts 60 and 6a of the treadle switch 6 to the corresponding spring contact 5 of the selector switch 5. Each treadle switch 6 is connected to a designated contact 5 of the selector switch 5. With the cover plate 5a in the open position there will be no continuity beyond the spring contacts 5 of the selector switch 5. With the cover plate 5a of the selector switch 5 in the closed position there will be continuity between all spring contacts 51 and the cover plate 5a. Therefore if pressure is applied to any or all treadle switches 6, we then complete the circuit, having continuity from the energizer 4b, across the treadle switches 6 and the selector switch 5, through the alarming device 4a and back into the energizer 4b. Thus the alarming device 4a will be sounded when pressure is applied to any treadle switch 6. It is here that the selector card 7 (FIG. 6), becomes necessary. The selector card 7 is placed into the selector switch 5 and the cover plate 5a is locked in the closed position by the cover plate clip 5 j.

5a, will, when pressure is applied to those treadle switches 6 complete the circuit thereby causing the alarming device 4a to sound.

The apertures 8 in the selector card 7 are arranged in such a manner so as to not often activate the treadle switch 6 of the treadle 2 located solitarily in section 1b of the main frame assembly 1. This particular treadle 2 is to be considered the starting point of the game.

With this condition only the spring contacts 5f which are in line with the apertures 8 in the selector card 7 will be in contact with the cover plate 5a. Therefore, only those treadle switches 6 that are connected to the spring contacts 5 which have passed through the apertures 8 in the selector card 7 and are in contact with the cover plate What is claimed is:

1. A game device comprising;

(a) a sheet of material;

(b) a plurality of switching devices secured to said sheet and selectively manually operable from the top side of said sheet;

(0) means on the top side of said sheet defining those areas which are effective in operating each of said switching devices;

((1) an energizer device connected at one pole to one of the sides of each of said switching devices;

(e) an alarm device connected at one side to the other pole of said energizer;

(f) and a selector switch means comprising a circuit control pattern sheet, a plurality of independent contacts equal in number to said switching devices, and a common contact sheet, each of said contacts being connected to the opposite side of one of each of said switching devices, and said common contact sheet being connected to the opposite side of said alarm device; whereby, when said pattern sheet is placed in said selector switch onlyselected ones of said independent contacts can, through said pattern sheet, complete a circuit through said alarm device when the associated switching services are closed.

References Cited UNITED STATES. PATENTS 6 1963 Super. 7/1965 White.

US. Cl. X.R. 2 0046, 61.76 

